Career and Education Opportunities for Agents in Plano, Texas

Plano, Texas provides a wide variety of opportunities, both career and educational, for agents. There are currently 430 working agents in Texas; this should grow by 19% to 510 working agents in the state by 2016. This is not quite as good as the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for agents are expected to grow by about 22.4%. In general, agents represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes to prospective employers.

Income for agents is about $22 per hour or $46,140 yearly on average in Texas. Nationally, their income is about $30 per hour or $62,940 yearly. Incomes for agents are not quite as good as in the overall category of Representation in Texas, and better than the overall Representation category nationally. People working as agents can fill a number of jobs, such as: author's agent, circus agent, and booking manager.

There is one school within twenty-five miles of Plano where you can study to be an agent, among seventy-nine schools of higher education total in the Plano area. The most common level of education for agents is a Bachelor's degree. You can expect to spend about four years studying to be an agent if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Agent

Agent video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, agents represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes to prospective employers. They also may handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.

Agents develop contacts with individuals and organizations, and apply effective strategies and techniques to insure their clients' success. They also keep informed of industry trends and deals. Equally important, agents have to collect fees or other payments, in line with contract terms. They are often called upon to arrange meetings concerning issues involving their clients. They are expected to talk with clients to evolve strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf. Finally, agents negotiate with managers and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.

Every day, agents are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings.

It is important for agents to schedule promotional or performance engagements for clients. They are often called upon to oversee business and financial affairs for clients, such as arranging travel and lodging and directing marketing and advertising efforts. They also obtain data related to and/or inspect performance facilities and accommodations to insure that they meet specifications. Somewhat less frequently, agents are also expected to ready periodic accounting statements for clients.

Agents sometimes are asked to hire trainers or coaches to advise clients on performance matters such as training techniques or performance presentations. They also have to be able to advise clients on financial and legal matters such as investments and taxes And finally, they sometimes have to develop contacts with individuals and organizations, and apply effective strategies and techniques to insure their clients' success.

Like many other jobs, agents must be able to deal with stress and deal with situations calmly and want to innovate to meet new challenges.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Plano include:

Wholesale Buyer. Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Agent Training

Southern Methodist University - Dallas, TX

Southern Methodist University, 6425 Boaz St, Dallas, TX 75275-0221. Southern Methodist University is a large university located in Dallas, Texas. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 10,965 students and an admission rate of 50%. Southern Methodist University has a master's degree program in Arts Management.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Plano, Texas

Plano, Texas photo by Jmcstrav

Plano is situated in Collin County, Texas. It has a population of over 267,480, which has grown by 20.5% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Plano, 91, is below the national average. New single-family homes in Plano are valued at $229,500 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, three hundred sixty-eight new homes were constructed in Plano, down from five hundred forty-six the previous year.

The three big industries for women in Plano are educational services, professional, scientific, and technical services, and health care. For men, it is professional, scientific, and technical services, computer and electronic products, and finance and insurance. The average travel time to work is about 28 minutes. More than 53.3% of Plano residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 17.6%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Plano is 7.4%, which is less than Texas's average of 8.1%.

The percentage of Plano residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 53.7%, is more than the national average but less than the state average. Potters House Assembly of God Church, Central Baptist Church and Preston Meadow Lutheran Church are among the churches located in Plano. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church.

Plano is home to the Heritage Farmstead Museum and the The Shops at Willow Bend as well as Enfield Park and Buckhorn Park. Shopping malls in the area include Preston Shepard Place Shopping Center, Preston Towne Crossing Shopping Center and Collin Creek Shopping Center. Visitors to Plano can choose from Amerisuites Dallas Plano North, Best Western Park Suites Hotel and AmeriSuites Plano for temporary stays in the area.